IAA Foundation names 2020 scholarship recipients

Published Tuesday, May 5, 2020 | Source:

In a time of uncertainty, students can count on the support of scholarships for college tuition during the 2020-21 school year, courtesy of the IAA Foundation.

As the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation awarded $114,000 to 72 students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related fields. Students were selected based on their academic achievements, leadership involvement, professional career goals and overall commitment to success.

Including Illinois County Farm Bureau Scholarship programs, more than $875,000 is awarded annually to students pursuing higher education.

Austin Schorfheide of Hoyleton was named the Illinois Farm Bureau Legacy of Leadership Scholarship recipient and received a $7,500 scholarship. Schorfheide, a member of the Washington County Farm Bureau, is the son of Brent and Jenee Schorfheide. He will be entering his junior year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is majoring in agricultural and consumer economics.

IAA Foundation Top Scholars, each receiving $5,000, include:

Miriam Hoffman of Earlville, daughter of Winifred and the late Kenneth Hoffman, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Sophia Hortin of Fisher, daughter of Mark and Shanna Hortin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The IAA Foundation has awarded more than 1,000 scholarships since 1989. This year, the Foundation added five newly established scholarship funds, thanks to generous donors wishing to support the future of agriculture through education. They include the $1,000 Leonard C. Zimmerly Memorial Scholarship, the $1,000 Charles B. Shuman Scholarship, the $1,500 Curt Walters Memorial Scholarship, the $1,000 Elbert and Mary Elsbury Scholarship and five, $2,000 Harris Thomas Scholarships.

“We seek to expand our scholarship program each year in order to support more students as they pursue careers in agriculture,” Jennifer Smith, IAA Foundation development manager said. “Through generous contributions from farm families, Illinois Farm Bureau members and others who support our industry, we continue to grow our program.”

Recipients of the Fletcher A. Gourley, Leonard Southwell and Roger Capps Memorial Scholarships, awarded to children of Prairie Farms Dairy employees and patrons in the amount of $2,000 each are:

The recipients of the Jean Stubblefield Memorial Scholarships are $1,500 Undergraduate: Eric Schafer of Owaneco, son of Aaron and Sue Schafer; and $3,000 Post-Graduate award: Rachel Smith-Poor of Pittsfield, daughter of Donald Smith and Carmen Smith.

The recipient of the $1,500 Greg Carney Scholarship is Lauren McMillan of Tiskilwa, daughter of Kyle and Jodi McMillan.

Receiving $1,000 Collegiate Farm Bureau Scholarships are:

Zachary Becker of Amboy, son of Steve and Karen Becker

Cooper Block of Paris, son of Scott and Brett Block

Conner Christian of Newark, son of Jeremy and Jill Christian

Nicholas Close of Reynolds, son of Greg and Brenda Close

Penny Flood of Montrose, daughter of Randy and April Flood

Alexa Jacobs of Walnut, daughter of Rod and Jennifer Jacobs

Devin Koester of Elizabeth, son of Karen Koester

Callie McClay of Oakdale, daughter of Steve and Denise McClay

The recipient of the $1,000 Robert F. Rouse Scholarship is Madelyn Cusick of Grayslake, daughter of Dan Cusick.

Receiving the $1,000 IAA Foundation General Scholarship in the name of Robert F. Rouse is Jacob Dalen of Manhattan, son of Paul Dalen and Marcia Dalen.

Recipients of the $1,000 IAA Foundation General Scholarships in the name of Fletcher Gourley and Leonard Southwell are Reagan Kulenkamp of Carlinville, son of Roy Kulenkamp and Cathy Kulenkamp; and Kathleen Smith of Walnut, daughter of David and Janet Smith.

Mallory Unverfehrt of Okawville, daughter of James and Lori Unverfehrt

The recipient of the $1,000 Dr. E Ray and Jeanie Searby Scholarship is Ashlyn Mool of Lexington, daughter of David and Sheila Mool.

Receiving the Dwain Ford Memorial Soybean Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is Seth Mitchell of Olney, son of Aaron and Deborah Mitchell.

Being awarded with the Heartland NAMA Steven A. Hammerschmidt Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 are Michelle Cooney of Deer Grove, daughter of Tom and Joan Cooney; and Hallie Horsman of Shelbyville, daughter of Todd and Terri Horsman.

The recipient of the $1,000 Twin Creek Family Farm Scholarship is Nick Mitchell of Kansas, son of Ryan Mitchell and Michelle Cottle.